An intriguing story (and a cross response) here.

Basically, the USA has decided to press on with its new policy of inviting Iranian diplomats to the US 4th of July celebrations (US National Day equivalent) round the world, despite the grisly regime behaviour in Iran itself.

As a gesture with a practical impact (other than to dismay and annoy some pro-democracy people in Iran who get to hear of it) it rates modestly.

In symbolic terms it sends a small and oddly twee message to the Iranian ruling elite that the USA is indeed open to ‘engagement’, whatever rather tougher words President Obama is now using about the Iranian so-called ‘election results’.

All of which reminds me of Iran’s National Day reception in Belgrade when I was there.

A dull, men-only affair, over-sweet cheap fruit juice.

And the most ghastly thing I have ever seen served at any reception, diplomatic or otherwise: a large metal plate piled high with a pyramid of Laughing Cow-style processed cheese spread triangle wedges, still in their silver paper.

Mind you, one of the worst dinners I ever had was at an American diplomat’s house where we were served baked potatoes still in their silver paper from the deep-freeze, complete with those little plastic butter tubs you get on airliners.

Aaargh.